Transverse joints for pavements



Nov. 16, 1965 A F, CRQNE 3,217,614

TRANSVERSE JOINTS FOR PAVEMENTS Filed July 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 16, 1965 A. F. cRoNE TRANSVERSE JOINTS FOR PAVEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1961 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 16, 1965 A. F. cRoNE TRANSVERSE JOINTS FOR PAVEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26. 1961 AT T ORNE YS Nov. 16, 1965 A. F. cRoNE TRANSVERSE JOINTS FOR PAVEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 26, 1961 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,217,614 TRANSVERSE JUIN'ES FOR PAVEMENTS Alfred F. Crone, Williamsville, NX., assigner to Acme Highway Products Corporation, Buffalo, NSY. Filed `Iuly 26, 1961, Ser. No. 126,964 3 Claims. (Cl. 941-8) This invention relates to transverse joints for highways and other paved surfaces, which serve to maintain adjacent pavement slabs in surface alinement and to permit horizontal movement of adjacent slabs relatively to each other due to thermal expansion and contraction, and particularly to joints of this type which include a sleeve type load transfer device formed in two parts, the parts being embedded in adjacent pavement slabs and interlocked with each other.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a pavement joint of this type of strong and rugged construction and in which the parts are formed so as to be easily Aassembled with a minimum of labor cost.

Another object is to provide a pavement joint of this type with improved means for interlocking the parts with each other without welding and without weakening any of the parts due to their interlocking construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a base of improved construction for supporting the transverse joints from a subgrade.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan View of a transverse pavement joint embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof showing the transverse joint arranged on a subgrade prior to the pouring of concrete or other paving material over the same.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale on line 3 3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view thereof on line 4 4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional elevation thereof on line 5 5, FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section thereof on line 6 6, FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation thereof on line 7 7, FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a transverse section on line 8 8, FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view thereof on line 9 9, FIG. 3.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary, top plan view of an end of a transverse joint member secured to a spacer bar and a base.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation thereof o on line 11 11, FIG. l0.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, on line 12 12, FIG. 14, showing a modified construction for connecting a transverse joint member with a center plate.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary, sectional elevations thereof on lines 13 13 and 14 14 respectively, FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a transverse, sectional elevation of a load transfer member of a pavement joint mounted on a base of modified construction.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, side view thereof, partly in section.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof on line 17-17, FIG. 15.

The pavement joint shown and embodying this invention is intended for use between two adjacent pavement slabs 24 and 25, FIG. 3, and includes a center plate Z6, preferably made of steel and which extends crosswise of the pavement between the two pavement slabs. This plate is preferably provided with longitudinally extending, stiffening beads 27 and is formed to support a plurality of load transfer members, each of which comprises two parts 28 and 29 which are connected with each other to resist vertical movement of one slab relatively to the other. To receive the load transfer members, the center plate is provided at intervals lengthwise thereof with suitable apertures 30 through which parts of the load transfer members may extend. A portion of one of the parts of each load transfer device extends through an aperture 3i) and preferably has a telescopic or overlapping connection with the other part of the load transfer device, in such a manner that the two parts when connected, will oppose Vertical movement of one pavement slab relatively to the other.

In order to accomplish these results, the part 28 of each load transfer device includes a shaft or anchoring member 32 formed to extend horizontally into the pavement slab 25 at approximately intermediate the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and this shaft terminates at one end thereof in an enlarged abutment portion 33 formed to seat against a face of the center plate 26. The part 28 of the load transfer device is provided with an extension or dowel 35 which is formed to extend through the aperture 3i) in the center plate and to a distance beyond into the other slab 24. The other part 29 of the load transfer device is provided with a suitable cavity or sheath formed to telescopically receive the extension or dowel 35. In the particular construction shown by way or example, the extension 35 is of I-shaped cross section having two opposite flat faces and cavities or recesses 36 on opposite sides thereof. The part 29 has an open-sided socket to receive the dowel 35, this socket being of three wall construction comprising upper and lower Walls 38 and 39 connected by an upright wall 40. The at faces of the extension or dowel 35 t against the walls 38 and 39. The part 29 of the load transfer device opposite to the upright wall 40 is preferably open. By means of this construction it will be seen that the two parts 28 and 29 of the load transfer member will be held against vertical movement relatively to each other and will consequently also hold the two slabs 24 and 25 against moving out of alinement. The part 29 also has an extension 42 formed to extend into and be embedded in the pavement slab 24 and the end of this shaft or anchoring member 42 may be provided with transverse and longitudinal ribs or flanges 43 and 44 which serve to securely hold the part 29 in xed relation to this slab. The horizontally extending ribs or flanges 44 provide increased bearing surfaces against the slab 24, and similar horizontal webs or flanges 45 are provided on the shaft of the part 28 of the load transfer member. These webs distribute the pressure resulting from the movement of one pavement slab vertically relatively to the other over the extended area of these webs so that the tendency of the slabs to break adjacent to the joints is greatly reduced. The webs 45 are of greatest width adjacent to the center plate, where these forces are greatest.

It is desirable to interlock the part 28 with the center plate 26 rather than to weld these parts together for the reason that welding tends to distort thel metal of the parts secured together and may thus interfere with the correct positioning of these parts relatively to each other. For this purpose I have provided improved means for interlocking the part 28 with the peripheral portions or edges of holes formed in the center plate 26.

In the particular `form shown in FIGS. 3-6, I have provi-ded the center plate with irregularly shaped generally rectangular holes through each of which a dowel 35 may pass when the part 28 is held at an angle to its normal position. Each hole is provided with an inwardly extending part 47 and the dowel is provided with an outwardly extending lug 48. The hole in the center plate is also provided with an enlargement 49 above the projection 47. Consequently when the l-oad transfer part 28 is tilted in a clockwise direction about its longitudinal ICC axis to the extent of about 2O degrees from the position shown in FIG. 5, it will be obvious that the projection 48 on the dowel member part 28 will pass through the enlargement 49 of the hole in the center plate and the lower part of the dowel will pass through another enlargement 50 of the hole in the center plate. Con sequently when the member 28 is swung into its normal operative position, as indicated in FIG. 5, the lug or projection 48 of the part 28 will swing into engagement with the projection 47 of the center plate and thus prevent withdrawal of the part 28 from the hole in the center plate. In order to further secure the part 28 in the center plate, a notch or recess 52 may be provided in the lower corner part of the dowel, see FIGS. 5 and 6, which interlocks with a part of the center plate at the perimeter of the hole. Consequently both the notch or recess 52 and the projection 48 lock the part 28 of the load transfer device in correct relation to the center plate, this interlocking being effected by merely first inserting the part 28 into the hole in the center plate while turned at a slight angle of approximately degrees about its longitudinal axis until the enlargement 33 abuts against one face of the center plate and then upon turning the member 28 into its operative position, a firm locking results without the use of any welding, rivets or other fastening devices and Without requiring any notches or recesses in the upper part of the dowel which would weaken the sarne.

After the load transfer part 28 has been secured in place on the center plate, the other part 29 thereof may then be positioned or telescoped over the dowel 35 in such a manner that one of the concave sides 36 of the dowel will be opposite the open face between the upper and lower walls 38 and 39.

It is necessary to hold the load transfer part 29 in correct relation to the dowel 35 in such a manner that the assembled road joint including the center plate and the several transverse joint members will remain in correctly assembled positions during transportation or shipment and while positioned on the subgrade of a proposed highway. For this purpose I provide the upper and lower walls 38 and 39 with outwardly extending lugs 55 which prior to the assembly of the parts of the road joint extend straight out from the walls 38 and 39. After the two load transfer parts 28 and 29 have been assembled by placing the dowel 35 in correct relation between the walls 38, 39 and 4), the lugs or extensions 55 are bent over into frictional engagement with the dowel, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. This can readily be done by means of hammer blows, since the parts of the transverse joints are made of malleable castings.

In order to hold the load transfer device in correct relation to a subgrade, I provide for this purpose a plurality of supports or bases, one being provided under each transverse joint. These bases may be made of metal strips 60 having flat sides and end portions 6I and having a central, longitudinally extending reinforcing bead 62. This base may lie flatly on the subgrade and is provided with upwardly extending arms 64 and 65 which extend upwardly from opposite sides of the base. Preferably these upwardly extending arms are partly cut from opposite sides of the base and bent upwardly about the uncut portions or ends.

The upper ends of these arms may be suitably secured to the center plate and the load transfer members in any suitable manner. In the construction shown, the arms 64 have the upper portions thereof bent to extend through holes in the center plate and the ends 67 beyond the holes are bent up to prevent removal of the upper ends of the arms from the holes in the center plate. By means of this construction the arms 64 support the center plate in spaced relation to the subgrade.

The ends of the shafts or outwardly extending body portions 69 of the parts 28 of the load transfer members are Secured at their outer ends to a spacer bar 78 which serves to hold the load transfer devices in correct relation to the center plate 26. In the construction shown for this purpose, the spacer bar is of angle-shaped cross section with one leg extending upwardly and the other leg substantially horizontal. This spacer bar as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has holes in the upright legs through which a reduced pin-like end or stud 7l of each load transfer part 28 extends to locate the ends of these load transfer parts in correctly spaced relation to the spacer bar and to each other.

The spacer bar and the ends of the load transfer devices connected therewith are supported in correct relation to the subgrade by means of the upwardly extending arms of the base. These arms each have horizontally bent portions 72 upon which the horizontal leg of the spacer member 7@ rests. The upper ends of these arms are bent over to provide inclined portions 73 which extend over the upright leg of the angle bar 7) and are turned over slightly at their extreme ends across the upper edge of the upright leg of the angle bar to hold the angle bar and the upper ends of the arms 65 in correct relation to each other. The part 28 of each load transfer member 28 is also provided at its end with laterally extending projections or spurs 74 over which the inclined parts 73 of the arms 65 extends. These arms are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the load transfer part 28 and thus form a secure lock between the part 28, the upwardly extending arms 65 and the spacer bar 78 and also prevent turning of the load transfer part 28 and thus prevent disengagement of the same from the center plate.

In FIGS. l0 and ll I have shown a modified construction for securing the upwardly extending arms of the base to the spacer member. In this construction a spacer member 75 of angle-shaped cross section is provided in the lower or horizontal leg with slots through which the upper ends of the pair of upwardly extending arms 76 may extend. In this case the upper end 77 of the arm is bent over across laterally projecting spurs 78 of the load transfer part 28 which part also has a stud '79 extending through a hole in the upright leg of the spacing member 75. By means of this construction the upper ends of the arms 76 may be bent over into clamping engagement with the spurs 78 of the part 28 and thus serve to hold the spacing member 75 in correct relation to the upwardly extending arms 76. The legs are provided with angularly bent parts 79 which engage the lower face of the angle bar and form seats which support the spacer bar at the desired elevation above the base 60.

In FIGS. 12-14 I have shown means of modified construction for securing one of the parts of the load transfer members to the center plate 88. In this case the hole in the center plate may be of a size sufficient to permit the dowel 82 of a part 8l of the load transfer device to pass through the hole 83 without turning or the center plate may have projections which interlock with grooves in the dowel upon turning. In order to hold this load transfer part in correct relation to the center plate 80, I provide the load transfer part 8l with an outwardly extending flange 86 having a slot or recess in the outer end thereof, and a rivet S7 passing through an aperture in the center plate alined with the recess in the fiange 86 securing the load transfer part to the center plate so as to prevent turning of the load transfer part relatively to the center plate.

In FIGS. l5 to 17 I `have shown a modified form of base plate 168 for cooperation with load transfer members each including a load transfer part E06 which cooperates with another load transfer member 107 approximately similar to the load transfer member 29 `shown in FIGS 3 8. This base 108 for the load transfer member is of channel construction, being preferably made of rolled steel and provided at opposite sides thereof with legs `or flanges 109. In this construction the upwardly extending arms Il@ and lll are partly cut out of the middle portion of the base member and bent upwardly. The arm 110 may be secured to the lower portion of the center plate 112 in any suitable manner, for example by means of a rivet 114 `extending through alined holes in the center plate and the upper end of the arm 110. The other arm 111 may be :suitably connected with a spacer bar 115, for example by providing the upper end :of the arm with a laterally bent portion 116 which may lie on top of the spacer bar 115 and be secured thereto and to the end of the load transfer parts 106 by means of a rivet 118. The end of the load transfer part 106 is preferably bent downwardly toward one side of the supporting arm 111 and then the extreme end of this arm extends parallel to the spacing member 11S and its end may be bifurcated to receive the rivet 118. By means of this construction the load transfer part 106 is positively held against movernent toward and from the spacer bar and does not depend upon the frictional grip of the rivet 118 in the bifurcated part of the end of the part 106.

The base is formed from a relatively long rolled strip of channel material from which lengths of material are cut to form the base. Preferably the cutting is done at an angle so as to 1provide at one end of the base a down wardly inclined end wall 120 which, in the event of movement of the base in a direction toward this end, will tend to dig into the subgraide. By cutting the lengths of material to form the base at acute angles to their length, the opposite ends of these bases will have upwardly inclined end walls 121.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials `and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in 4the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A highway joint including a rigid center plate for positioning between two pavement slabs and provided at intervals with generally rectangular holes, the periphery of each hole being provided with .spaced enlargements in the corners on one side thereof with a projection therebetween, load transfer members each formed in two parts, one part extending in `one direction from said center plate and the other part extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said first mentioned part of said load transfer member having a dowel which is of generally I-shape in i cross section and having a flange and an outwardly extending projection spaced therefrom, said dowel and said projection being shaped to permit passage through one of said holes with the projection on said dowel extending through one of said enlargements when the transfer member is inserted at an angle of approximately degrees to its normal position, the projection on said dowel interlocking behind said projection on the periphery of said hole with the flange of the dowel in contact with the opposite side of the center plate, a supporting base on which said first part of said transfer member is secured and which holds said first part against turning after being interlocked with said center plate, and means for frictionally connecting said two parts of said load transfer members.

2. A highway joint including a rigid center plate for positioning between two pavement slabs and provided at intervals with holes lof generally rectangular shape, load transfer members each formed in two parts one part extending in one direction from said center plate and the other part extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said first mentioned part of said load transfer member having a dowel shaped to extend through one of said holes `and of approximately I-shape in cross section and having an outwardly extending projection thereon adja- 6 cent to said dowel, the outline of each hole in said center plate having an outwardly enlarged part shaped to permit said dowel and said projection to pass through said hole when said first mentioned transfer member part is positioned at an angle of approximately 20 degrees about the axis of said dowel to its normal position, said outline having an inwardly extending projection immediately adjacent to said outwardly recessed part thereof behind which said projection of said transfer member part extends when the same is turned into its normal position to prevent withdrawing said part from said center plate, and a projecting part on said center plate cooperating with a projection of said transfer member to limit the turning thereof beyond its operative position, a supporting base resting on the subgrade of the highway and secured lto said part for supporting said part in operative relation to the pavement, and an interlocking connection on said part and said base which holds said part against rotating out of its normal position.

3. A highway joint including a rigid center plate for positioning between two pavement slabs and provided at intervals with holes of gener-ally rectangular shape, load transfer members each formed in two parts, one part extending in one direction from said center plate and the other part extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said first mentioned part of said load transfer member having la dowel shaped to extend through said hole and of approximately I-shape in cross section and having an 'outwardly extending projection thereon adjacent to said dowel, the outline of each hole in said center plate being shaped to permit said dowel and said projection to pass through said hole when said first mentioned transfer member part is positioned at an angle of approximately 20 degrees about the axis 'of said dowel to its normal position, said outline having a projection which engages with said projection of said transfer member part when the same is turned into its normal position to prevent withdrawing said part from said center plate, and a part cooperating with a part of said transfer member to stop turning thereof when in operative position, and a supporting base secured to said part for supporting said part in operative relation to the pavement and locking said part against rotating out of its normal position, said first part of said load transfer member having laterally extending spurs at the outer end thereof, said locking means including a base for resting on the subgrade and having upwardly extending arms engaging said spurs of the outer end of said first load transfer part and holding said part against turning into a position to disengage said center plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,712 4/ 1904 Arnold 287-20 2,116,697 5/ 1938 Geyer 94-18 2,181,005 ll/ 1939 Westcott 94-18 2,227,614 1/ 1941 Willard 94-18 2,255,599 9/1941 Olmsted 94-18 2,256,930 9/ 1941 Willard 94-8 2,296,756 9/ 1942 Yeoman 94-8 2,319,713 5/1943 Williams 94-18 2,325,472 7/ 1943 Brickman 94-18 2,405,654 8/1946 Hunt 94--17 2,482,836 9/ 1949 Brickman 94-18 2,608,141 8/1952 Jacobson 94-18 2,743,652 5/ 1956 Brickman 94-8 2,826,388 3/1958 Janos 287-20 3,089,395 5/ 1963 Crone 9417 JACOB L. NACKENGFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HIGHWAY JOINT INCLUDING A RIGID CENTER PLATE FOR POSITIONING BETWEEN TWO PAVEMENT SLABS AND PROVIDED AT INTERVALS WITH GENERALLY RECTANGULAR HOLES, THE PERIPHERY OF EACH HOLE BEING PROVIDED WITH SPACED ENLARGEMENTS IN THE CORNERS OF ONE SIDE THEREOF WITH A PROJECTION THEREBETWEEN, LOAD TRANSFER MEMBERS EACH FORMED IN TWO PARTS, ONE PART EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID CENTER PLATE AND THE OTHER PART EXTENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THEREFROM, SAID FIRST MENTIONED PART OF SAID LOAD TRANSFER MEMBER HAVING A DOWEL WHICH IS OF GENERALLY I-SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A FLANGE AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTION SPACED THEREFROM, SAID DOWEL AND SAID PROJECTION BEING SHAPED TO PERMIT PASSAGE THROUGH ONE OF AID HOLES WITH THE PROJECTION ON AID DOWEL EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID ENLARGEMENTS WHEN THE TRANSFER MEMBER IS INSERTED AT AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, THE PROJECTION ON SAID DOWEL INTERLOCKING BEHIND SAID PROJECTION ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID HOLE WITH THE FLANGE OF THE DOWEL IN CONTACT WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CENTER PLATE, A SUPPORTING BASE ON WHICH SAID FIRST PART OF SAID TRANSFER MEMBER IS SECURED AND WHICH HOLDS SAID FIRST PART AGAINST TURNING AFTER BEING INTERLOCKED WITH SAID CENTER PLATE, AND MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY CONNECTING SAID TWO PARTS OF SAID LOAD TRANSFER MEMBERS. 